Another Salmonella Recall: Ritz Cracker Products Pulled In IL

ILLINOIS — Mondelez International announced a voluntary recall of certain Ritz cracker sandwiches and Ritz Bits products, citing salmonella fears. Sixteen different products are recalled in the U.S., including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Affected products include Ritz Bits Cheese Cracker Sandwiches in various packaging, Ritz Cheese Cracker Sandwiches, Ritz Bacon Cracker Sandwiches with Cheese Filling, Ritz Everything Crackers and Mixed Cookie Cracker variety packs.

Mondelez said the culprit is whey powder used in the products. The whey powder's supplier has recalled it due to the potential presence of salmonella.

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"Salmonella is a microorganism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis," Mondelez said.

The full list of recalled products, "best by" dates and UPC codes can be found here. The products are sold at retail stores nationwide

The Ritz recall is only the latest threat of food-borne illness in Illinois. Last week, drug-resistant salmonella cases were linked to raw turkey products, sickening nine people in the state. Meanwhile, McDonald's salads and food at a country club event were linked to a parasite infection that sickened more than 240 people in Illinois.

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